Fluid dispenser



Feb. 6, 1945. J; PARKHURST 2,368,944

FLUID DISPENSER Filed 001;. 9, 1942 INVENTOR "ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUIDDISPENSER John E. Parkhurst, San Diego, Calif.

Application October 9, 1942, Serial No. 61,422

3 Claims. (01. 222-407) My invention relates to fluid dispensers, particularly those embodying collapsible tubes employed for expelling and utilizing fluid substances for any purpose, and more especially those utilizing tubes used for spreading upon the skin facial creams or shaving pastes: and its objects are to construct the wall of said tube in such form as to admit of its being collapsed by manual pressure so as properly to expel the fluid in said tube contained; to provide a normally nonrernovable closure embodying means to effect a direct exit passageway for the fluid out of said tube; to perdotted lines in Fig. 1, and permitting the formamit a better application andspreading of the fluid upon the surface of the object to which it is to be applied, and generally to improve the construction and operation of the several parts. Other objects will appear from the drawing and as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Attention is hereby directed to the drawing illustrating a preferred form of my invention in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and

in which-- v Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tube and closure therefor;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 2 looking down upon the top thereof;

Figure 4 is a view of said device looking at the same from the bottom thereof;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows substance, preferably plastic sheet material ofsuch properties and thickness as normally to sustain itself in noncollapsi'ble condition, but being capable upon manual pressure of being sufficiently compressible to expel the contents of the tube through the outlet thereof.

As shown in the drawing, the body of the tube is generally round, particularly at the top, is

collapsible into a generally triangular shape below, and has its bottom formed by the lower tion of the elongated triangularly shaped taper- ,ing groove 22, the inclinedwalls of which are indicated by the numerals l6 and IT. This tapering groove 22 is thrust out and disappears when the tube is filled, but reappears upon diminution of its contents exerted by pressure, and greatly contributes to the collapsing of the tube first into the triangular shape shown in Fig. 5 and finally into the folded form shown in Fig. 6. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, by reason of the fold lines or creases above referred to, depressions 20 tend to appear in the Wall of the tube upon compression of the walls thereof and its collapsibility into a triangular form, which depressions also contribute to said collapsibility. These depressions, however, do not appear when the tube is filled and its walls distended, but occur upon compression of the tube and the discharging of its contents.

As a means of closure of said tube 8, I preferably employ the special form of cap 9 with a spherically curved top, which cap is provided with the interior threads ID engaging with the round threaded nipple ll connected with and forming the outlet of said tube, and which cap is constructed with the opening I2 extending therethrough. Preferably, the end of said nipple II is entirely closed except that it has the opening I3 which is constructed to register with opening 12 upon the turning of the cap 9 for the purpose of expelling through a direct and straight passageway a portion of the contents of the tube. In order to prevent the undesired removal of said cap and to limit the turning thereof, I preferably form the said cap with the arcuate recess l4, within which slides the head of the staple IS the ends of which [6a are secured to adjacent openings passing through the wall of the nipple H; and as will be observed, the head of said staple extends sufficiently far into said recess I 4 as to permit only a limited turning of the cap 9 upon the nipple I but, nevertheless allowing sufficient turning to bring about registration of metal, and is of such strength that it will normally serve to prevent the removal of the cap- 9, but if for any reason itis desired to take oil such cap, the said staple can readily be pried loose through the use of a screwdriver or similar tool and the cap removed. Preferably I make the cap of plastic material, but the same could be made of any substance suitable iorthe pur-,

DOSE. As is apparent, my improved collapsible tube and closure thereof is susceptible of many uses h in the art. I find it of particular advantage when used as a container .for shaving cream, the tube being of such shape that it is readily-andfirmly held in the hand, and the spherically curved top permitting the same to make asliding contacttwvith the face and efiectively to spread the cream over the skin. In making such application, the best efiect is secured 'by firstturning'the .capltoopen position and expelling a sufficient ziquantity :for shaving, .then closingthecapand using thesame as an applicator forthe :cream.

My invention may heembodiBdinothBr specific forms without departing: fromuthe spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment, as above set torth is' thereforeto be considered'in all respects. as illustrative and; not restrictive, the scopeof myinvention beingindicated by theappendedclaims rather than :by the foregoing description, and; all changes which come within :ther'meaning. and rrangezof equivalency of the. claimsare thereforev intended .to .'be embraced therein.

, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters' Patent is:

1. In a fluid dispenser, the combination of a tube circular in form at its discharge end at the top and having its Walls collapsible into a generally triangular shape between said top and the other end of said tube, said tube having a wall longitudinally foldable back upon itself, and the base of said tube having the lower ends of its walls .secured .together in .three :folded .portions radiating from the centerfthereof, and closure means for the discharge end of said tube.

12. In a fluid dispenser, the combination of a tube circular in format its discharge end at -the '--top and having its walls collapsible into .a generally triangular shape between said top and the other end of. said tube, said tube having a wall Withsadepressed tapering groove extending longitudinally thereof and having inclined contube,1the'. base .of .said tube. having the 'lowerends of a his walls-secured together in three .folded portions radiatingfrom the center thereof, -means cooperating, with .said'ioldedportions and associatedwi-th the main body .of said tube for causing-the same to col-lapse upon manualpressure into a generally triangular form, andclosure means for-the discharge endof the tubes JOHN :PARKHURST. 

